How a Cyclist Views a Car Door – as a Potential Broken Collarbone

A car door may just be an entry and exit point for drivers of passenger cars. But to a cyclist, a car door is a dangerous weapon. Oftentimes, drivers park their cars on the street and get out of them in a hurry – not looking for cyclists passing by before exiting their vehicles. When drivers do this, they may swing their car doors into the path of an oncoming cyclist.

When a car door suddenly appears before a bicyclist, he may not have much time to react. This often leads to a Sarasota bicycle crash of some sort. Either the bicyclist will swerve to avoid the car door and end up crashing into moving traffic, or the cyclist will hit the car door head-on. In either situation, the cyclist is typically ejected from his bike and may fall to the ground after hitting the car or flipping over his handlebars.

Because the collarbone is located near the top of the shoulder, it is exposed in a crash and is often injured as a result. The collarbone connects the tops of the breastbone to the shoulder blade, and can break when it is hit forcefully. This generally occurs in one of two ways:

The cyclist has direct impact with the car or the ground

The cyclist extends his arms to catch himself from falling

Clavicle Injuries in Florida Bicycle Accidents

When cyclists’ collarbones get injured in bicycle wrecks because of a negligent driver not paying attention or looking out for them, they should be compensated for their injuries. A broken collarbone, also known as a broken clavicle, can be extremely painful for bicyclists. People with broken collarbones often cannot take care of themselves, drive, go to work, or participate in the day-to-day activities they are used to.

When You Suffer a Clavicle Injury

If you sustained a broken clavicle in a Sarasota cycling accident caused from someone else’s negligence, you may have a personal injury claim. Even if you are not sure if you want to pursue a claim, at least do the following things:

Seek medical attention immediately – broken collarbones are extremely painful and should be attended to. You may need a sling, or surgery, in extreme cases. It is important to your health as well as to your potential claim to make sure your injuries are documented in your medical file.

Talk with a Sarasota bicycle injury lawyer – for more information about cases of this nature, it is wise to speak with an experienced attorney. Lawyers skilled in personal injury law will be able to explain to you how the process works and how to protect your rights.

Because you may not be able to return to work for some time, you may need compensation for your medical bills, physical therapy, lost income, and more. Call the Mallard Law Firm at (888) 409-3805 to speak with a knowledgeable accident attorney in a free consultation today. You can also request a complimentary copy of our book, The Florida Accident Handbook: What You Need to Know After an Auto, Truck or Bicycle Accident.